When its legal for everyone to use bus lane can you undertake traffic to your right?

hedgeh0g

Say for example a L driver is doing 20 KM in the right lane and the bus lane is
empty and legal for me to use, (Im not a taxi) can I undertake it in this car using the bus lane?

Random

My understanding is as follows:
- you cannot cross the continuous white line to enter / exit the bus lane and have to do it at either end
- it's a separate carragieway essentially so there's no trouble "undertaking" traffic in the "regular" lane

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

craichoe

hedgeh0g wrote: »

Say for example a L driver is doing 20 KM in the right lane and the bus lane is
empty and legal for me to use, (Im not a taxi) can I undertake it in this car using the bus lane?

No, and its quite dangerous too, treat everyone on the right as if they're in front of you.

L1011

Random wrote: »

My understanding is as follows:
- you cannot cross the continuous white line to enter / exit the bus lane and have to do it at either end
- it's a separate carragieway essentially so there's no trouble "undertaking" traffic in the "regular" lane

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The white line is too wide to legally count as a continuous white line, you can cross it at any time. Its also not a seperate carriageway, when open to all traffic it becomes the driving lane...

robtri

hedgeh0g wrote: »

Say for example a L driver is doing 20 KM in the right lane and the bus lane is
empty and legal for me to use, (Im not a taxi) can I undertake it in this car using the bus lane?

I used to think differently, but absolutely NO is the answer, I had emailed the RSA recently on this and they confirmed this as a big no no...
you are not allowed to undertake at any time unless traffic is moving in slow moving queues...

Sids Not

hedgeh0g wrote: »

Say for example a L driver is doing 20 KM in the right lane and the bus lane is
empty and legal for me to use, (Im not a taxi) can I undertake it in this car using the bus lane?

If the L driver is in the right lane when its legal to use the bus lane,in which case its a driving lane.. then i think the learner needs a few more theory classes.....;)

furtzy

robtri wrote: »

I used to think differently, but absolutely NO is the answer, I had emailed the RSA recently on this and they confirmed this as a big no no...
you are not allowed to undertake at any time unless traffic is moving in slow moving queues...

So whats the deal if theres some idiot pottering along in the over-taking lane of a dual carraigeway doing 80kph in a 120kph surely the traffic in the normal driving lane are allowed undertake?

Rules of the road state you can overtake on the left when

Traffic in both lanes is moving slowly and traffic in the left-hand lane is moving more quickly than the traffic in the right-hand lane.

robtri

furtzy wrote: »

So whats the deal if theres some idiot pottering along in the over-taking lane of a dual carraigeway doing 80kph in a 120kph surely the traffic in the normal driving lane are allowed undertake?

honest to god, email the RSA from their website if you don't believe me, but that is basically the same question I asked...
you have to slow your speed move into the over taking lane and wait( pray) that he moves over to the correct lane, under no circumstances is it accpetable to undertake this slow driver.

FX Meister

Sids Not wrote: »

If the L driver is in the right lane when its legal to use the bus lane,in which case its a driving lane.. then i think the learner needs a few more theory classes.....;)

It's generally drivers with full licenses as well as learners that don't use the bus lane

woodseb

robtri wrote: »

honest to god, email the RSA from their website if you don't believe me, but that is basically the same question I asked...
you have to slow your speed move into the over taking lane and wait( pray) that he moves over to the correct lane, under no circumstances is it accpetable to undertake this slow driver.

the law's an ass then, unless they start policing drivers sitting in the overtaking lane, i'll continue to undertake, safely i might add, for the sake of my sanity. The same goes for bus lanes out of hours

Relevant

Surely it is acceptable to overtake on the left hand side if traffic is moving more slowly in the right hand lane. In that case it is not overtaking, it is just moving quicker than the right hand lane.

Also, there is no overtaking lane on a dual carriageway

Zube

Relevant wrote: »

Surely it is acceptable to overtake on the left hand side if traffic is moving more slowly in the right hand lane.

It is certainly easier than overtaking on the left when the traffic in the right hand lane is moving more quickly.

Zube

Relevant wrote: »

Also, there is no overtaking lane on a dual carriageway

Correct, in the Rules of the Road, the left hand lane of a dual carriageway is clearly stated to be for trucks, mopeds and learner drivers, and the right hand lane is for muppets who never read the Rules.

Jumpy

Lanes have equal priority unless its a motorway. There is no issue with overtaking on the left "undertaking" is the business of organising funerals.
It is courtesy to keep left unless overtaking, and personally should be enforced on dual carriageways as well, but on a normal town/city road there is no legal issue.

seamus

Relevant wrote: »

Surely it is acceptable to overtake on the left hand side if traffic is moving more slowly in the right hand lane. In that case it is not overtaking, it is just moving quicker than the right hand lane.

Nope, the traffic in the right-hand lane must be queuing. It's not sufficient for it to simply be going slower.

Jumpy wrote: »

Lanes have equal priority unless its a motorway. There is no issue with overtaking on the left "undertaking" is the business of organising funerals.
It is courtesy to keep left unless overtaking, and personally should be enforced on dual carriageways as well, but on a normal town/city road there is no legal issue.

Complete crap.
There are 3 occasions where it is permitted to overtake on the left. I won't recite them, we all know them.
In all other cases you *must* overtake on the right. No ifs or buts or "equal priorities", you must overtake on the right.

seamus

mickoneill30 wrote: »

"Traffic in both lanes is moving slowly and traffic in the left-hand lane is moving more quickly than the traffic in the right-hand lane."

You need to examine the spirit of the statement. "Traffic" implies that there are a number of vehicles in both lanes. Therefore if there are a number of vehicles in both lanes and traffic is moving slowly, you're queuing.

It's always been a thorny one because it's open to interpretation, but you can't argue that "traffic" is you, the guy on your right and the car 500m in front of you, or that "slow" is "any speed below the speed limit".

Jumpy

seamus wrote: »

Nope, the traffic in the right-hand lane must be queuing. It's not sufficient for it to simply be going slower.

Complete crap.
There are 3 occasions where it is permitted to overtake on the left. I won't recite them, we all know them.
In all other cases you *must* overtake on the right. No ifs or buts or "equal priorities", you must overtake on the right.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, and while I agree with what should be law, it isnt. Ireland has decided to do it its own way.
If you want a perfect system, go to Australia.

seamus

Jumpy wrote: »

I appreciate your enthusiasm, and while I agree with what should be law, it isnt. Ireland has decided to do it its own way.

I beg to differ

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/si/0182.html#zzsi182y1997a10

(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-article (5), a driver shall overtake on the right and shall not move in towards the left until it is safe to do so.


(5) A driver may only overtake on the left—


( a ) where the driver of the vehicle about to be overtaken has signalled an intention to turn to the right and the driver of the overtaking vehicle intends, after overtaking, to go straight ahead or to turn to the left,


( b ) where the driver of the overtaking vehicle intends, after overtaking, to turn left at the next road junction and has signalled this intention,


( c ) in slow moving traffic, when vehicles in the traffic lane on the driver's right are moving more slowly than the overtaking vehicle.

The words "may only" make it very clear there that to overtake on the left in any other circumstance is an offence.

Vegeta

( c ) in slow moving traffic, when vehicles in the traffic lane on the driver's right are moving more slowly than the overtaking vehicle.

Is there a definition of "traffic" in that Act or regulation?

seamus

Vegeta wrote: »

Is there a definition of "traffic" in that Act or regulation?

Yes.

"traffic" does not include pedestrians;

Utterly useless

Tbh, I am open to correction on this one, but I imagine it's been tried and tested over and over in the courts, so there has to be some precedent set, some judgement made about how to interpret that statement. Gardai don't pull people over for undertaking for the good of their health.

Cookie_Monster

seamus wrote: »

Gardai don't pull people over for undertaking for the good of their health.

FYP

I doubt you'll find precident for "undertaking via the bus lane" tbh.


Is there a difference between moving lanes to undertake and staying in the driving lane at limit and passing slower people wrongly in the outer lane, because that would be the only out I could see the courts allowing

Vegeta

seamus wrote: »

Yes.
Utterly useless

Indeed

Tbh, I am open to correction on this one, but I imagine it's been tried and tested over and over in the courts, so there has to be some precedent set, some judgement made about how to interpret that statement. Gardai don't pull people over for undertaking for the good of their health.

Its not one I'd try to argue myself, it would be handy if "traffic" was more specifically defined. It could be argued that if you and a line of other cars get stuck behind someone crawling along on the right, you are then in slow moving traffic, in the traffic lane but I wouldn't like to try that one in court.

Put it this way though, if there was a squad car behind me there is no way I'd overtake on the left in the OPs situation, unless the squad does first.

robtri

the gardai will charge you with dangerous driving, not undertaking.....

the rules are very clear, never undertake..... only exception is when vehicles are queued and slow moving.....

woodseb

robtri wrote: »

the gardai will charge you with dangerous driving, not undertaking.....

the rules are very clear, never undertake..... only exception is when vehicles are queued and slow moving.....

the rules are not clear, if you are passing out a car on the inside, provided you are below the speed limit isn't the car in the right hand lane by definition slow moving?

the problems is caused by poor driving legislation and clear enforcement. The law is deficient when a driver legally driving in the correct (left) lane making reasonable progress within the speed limit is then defined as carrying out an illegal manouvre purely because another driver is not obeying the ROTR

mdebets

Road Traffic Act wrote:

( c ) in slow moving traffic, when vehicles in the traffic lane on the driver's right are moving more slowly than the overtaking vehicle.

Vegeta wrote: »

Is there a definition of "traffic" in that Act or regulation?

I don't think the definition of traffic is the important part, but the definition of slow moving.
Even so that's also not defined, I can't really see any judge defining slow moving as being anything other than a car driving at walking speed or a little bit above it.

Vegeta

woodseb wrote: »

the rules are not clear, if you are passing out a car on the inside, provided you are below the speed limit isn't the car in the right hand lane by definition slow moving?

My thoughts exactly,

the problems is caused by poor driving legislation and clear enforcement. The law is deficient when a driver legally driving in the correct (left) lane making reasonable progress within the speed limit is then defined as carrying out an illegal manouvre purely because another driver is not obeying the ROTR

I love our legislators they're so great :pac:

robtri

woodseb wrote: »

the rules are not clear, if you are passing out a car on the inside, provided you are below the speed limit isn't the car in the right hand lane by definition slow moving?

so if the speed limit is 100KPH and a driver is doing 80KPh in the right hand lane, I don't think anyone would class that as slow moving traffic....
it also states VehicleS which means more than one car in the right hand lane...

Vegeta

mdebets wrote: »

I don't think the definition of traffic is the important part, but the definition of slow moving.
Even so that's also not defined, I can't really see any judge defining slow moving as being anything other than a car driving at walking speed or a little bit above it.

Traffic definition would be important, just as much as slow moving.

Say this happens to you at 2 o clock in the morning on a quiet road (due to it being 2am), there is a single car driving below the speed limit in the right hand lane.

You are legally driving in the bus lane and are the only car he is impeding.

If "slow moving" is defined then maybe you can say "yeah that guy is slow moving, but I am only allowed pass in slow moving traffic, does two cars driving slowly together constitute traffic?"

Unless both are defined the situation would remain the same (or they could add a piece to address this issue specifically)

To me traffic is any other vehicle or users of the road but to others such as a judge it may be when there is a group of vehicles together. Both need clarification

woodseb

robtri wrote: »

so if the speed limit is 100KPH and a driver is doing 80KPh in the right hand lane, I don't think anyone would class that as slow moving traffic....
it also states VehicleS which means more than one car in the right hand lane...

prehaps not, but the act which makes it an undertaking offence is not the driver doing 99kph in the left lane, but the driver doing 80kph in the right lane who cannot be overtaking someone if the driver in the left can reach 99kph. The only way the left driver can avoid an offence is by
a) reducing his speed to that of the right lane thus causing a moving roadblock
b) move into the right lane and sit behind someone at 80kph, which further exacerbates the problem for other drivers.

as i said, the law is an ass. it should be used the prevent somebody weaving in and out of traffic like they are in a bond movie car chase, but not someone otherwise obeying the ROTR

junior_apollo

Its the idiots using the right hand lane for anything other than turning or overtaking that need to be punished... stay in the left if you want to move slow - and let others overtake you in the right and then move back into the left when safe to do so...

plissken

Relevant wrote: »

Also, there is no overtaking lane on a dual carriageway

Jesus wept.

Zube wrote: »

Correct, in the Rules of the Road, the left hand lane of a dual carriageway is clearly stated to be for trucks, mopeds and learner drivers, and the right hand lane is for muppets who never read the Rules.

No, he isnt. Honestly, have either of you got full licences. I simply cant believe that anyone could possibly think the right lane on a dual carriage-way is not an overtaking lane i honestly cant.

From the RSA website(this wont be news to any competent drivers)

Dual carriageways are roads with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in each direction. The outer or right-hand lane in each direction is the lane nearest to the centre of the dual carriageway.

You must normally drive in the left-hand lane of a dual carriageway. You may use the outer lane of a two-lane or three-lane dual carriageway only:

for overtaking, and
when intending to turn right a short distance ahead.

markpb

The law is stated fine - it stops people driving dangerously (ie putting yourself in a position where a person dropping from lane 2 to lane 1 could be impeded by a person undertaking) while simultaneously avoiding penalising people who drift past a person in lane 2 because of heavy traffic. Where it falls down is that it assumes all other drivers are obeying the law, i.e. they're in the overtaking lane only to overtake and could move back into the first lane at any time.

This is the spirit of the law but it's let down by the fact that people are idiots and drive in the overtaking lane unnecessarily. If you undertake at speed and they move back into the first lane, you'll be at fault for undertaking - the fact that they were driving below the speed limit is irrelevant.

cormac_byrne

MYOB wrote: »

The white line is too wide to legally count as a continuous white line, you can cross it at any time. Its also not a seperate carriageway, when open to all traffic it becomes the driving lane...

Where did you get these ideas from?

Certainly not from the rules of the road or RSA website.

If the bus lane is not a separate carriageway then how do the busses and taxis get away with undertaking all the time?

markpb

cormac_byrne wrote: »

If the bus lane is not a separate carriageway then how do the busses and taxis get away with undertaking all the time?

In keeping with the spirit of the law, they can undertake quite safely. No-one should be moving from lane 2 to lane 1 (the bus lane) so there's no risk of collision.

seamus

markpb wrote: »

If you undertake at speed and they move back into the first lane, you'll be at fault for undertaking - the fact that they were driving below the speed limit is irrelevant.

This is not strictly correct where lanes are concerned. When changing lanes, you must give way to traffic already in that lane. That it's a lane on your left is irrelevant. If it was a single lane, and someone went to undertake you as you were turning left, then you'd be right - he's at fault. But when changing lanes you must yield to traffic in the other lane, regardless of whether you're going left or right.

cormac_byrne

markpb wrote: »

In keeping with the spirit of the law, they can undertake quite safely. No-one should be moving from lane 2 to lane 1 (the bus lane) so there's no risk of collision.

Exactly! "No-one should be moving from lane 2 to lane 1 (the bus lane)"
i.e. taxis & buses in that lane stay there

And it's the same for an out of hours bus lane.
except cars too can enter the bus lane.

But remember you enter the bus lane by crossing a dotted line and exit the same or at a junction. You should not cross the fat white line and the same goes for buses/taxis. (except for as per ROTR to avoid obstacles etc...)

If you ask RSA can I use an out of hours bus lane for undertaking,
"i.e drive in regular lane, move into bus lane to undertake, then back into regular lane", then of course they will say no.

But if you ask can I drive in an out of hours lane just like a bus does, surely they must say yes.

sneakyST

MYOB wrote: »

The white line is too wide to legally count as a continuous white line, you can cross it at any time. Its also not a seperate carriageway, when open to all traffic it becomes the driving lane...

Incorrect according to the guard who pulled me over for doing it. I crossed the white line 10 yards too early before a traffic lights. Gave me a warning but no fine. I asked him does the same rule apply to a white line down the middle and he said yes. It was news to me at the time.

cormac_byrne

From the RSA:-

"The out of hours bus lane can be used by any vehicular traffic for normal driving, and if any driver wishes to overtake the vehicle in front of him he may do so on the right provided it is SAFE to do so.

A driver MUST not overtake other traffic in a out of hours bus lane, with the exception when traffic is queuing in both lanes."

i.e. out of hours you can use the bus lane
(note they didn't say must use)

you can cross the fat white line to overtake,
but you can't use the bus lane to undertake,
unless traffic is queuing in both lanes

---

Full text of my query and reply from the RSA

Dear Mr. Byrne



Thank you for your e-mail regarding the use of “out of hours” bus lanes by cars. Please see attached response from Mr. Pat xxxx, Driver Testing Supervisor. I hope this is of assistance to you and should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Road Safety Authority again.



Kind Regards

Elizabeth yyyyy

Road Safety Authority



Hi Elizabeth



In reply to the first question the bus lane should not be used during the hours shown on the information sign.



The out of hours bus lane can be used by any vehicular traffic for normal driving, and if any driver wishes to overtake the vehicle in front of him he may do so on the right provided it is SAFE to do so.



A driver MUST not overtake other traffic in a out of hours bus lane, with the exception when traffic is queuing in both lanes.



This should clarify the query.





Regards

Pat xxxxxx

---

Original Message

---

From: Cormac Byrne [mailto:cormac_byrne@zzzzzzzzzzzz]

Sent: 11 March 2009 12:54

To: Info

Subject: Car useage of 'out of hours' bus lanes





info@rsa.ie



Hi,

I have some queries relating to bus lanes



Bus lanes are separated form other carriageways by a fat white line.

I presume this makes it separate from the other carriageways and thus allows buses / taxis to 'undertake' traffic which is to their right.

I also presume that once in the bus lane they may not leave it by crossing the white line.

The only way to enter / leave a bus lane is at the start / end or at a junction.

crossing the fat white line is only allowed to avoid obstacles etc... (as stated in the rules of the road)

therefore once in a bus lane you cannot overtake a vehicle directly in front of you (as that would be crossing a continuous white line)



Am I correct?



Where there are 'out of hours' bus lanes the rules are exactly the same except that cars as well as buses & taxis may enter the bus lane.

Cars have the option of using the bus lane or not at their own discretion.



Is this correct?



There are many people who say that an out of hours bus lane should be treated as a regular carriageway.

i.e. cars should use it in preference to their regular lane (by the always drive in the left lane rule)

and the regular car lane is now for overtaking only (and the fat white line doesn't mean the same as a regular continous line i.e. you can cross it to overtake)



can the ROTR website be updated to state clearly this is not the case?

(or if I am totally wrong, clarification added to make it clear where I'm going wrong)

markpb

cormac_byrne wrote: »

From the RSA:-

"The out of hours bus lane can be used by any vehicular traffic for normal driving, and if any driver wishes to overtake the vehicle in front of him he may do so on the right provided it is SAFE to do so.

A driver MUST not overtake other traffic in a out of hours bus lane, with the exception when traffic is queuing in both lanes."

i.e. out of hours you can use the bus lane
(note they didn't say must use)

Presumably they didn't need to tell you that since it's covered by the "keep left unless overtaking" law.

cormac_byrne

markpb wrote: »

Presumably they didn't need to tell you that since it's covered by the "keep left unless overtaking" law.

I've asked them to clarify that.

And I've also asked them to point out where in the road traffic acts it defines the 'fat white line' that separates the bus lane so I can see that it is different to any other white line e.g. it states it's ok to cross it.

Dearg81

Its sounds like the normal rules for a continous white line don't apply while the bus lane is out of hours then as you are allowed to overtake in the right lane while in the bus lane even though you are crossing a continous white line. Very confusing

cormac_byrne

RSA have confirmed to me that out of hours on a bus lane the "keep left unless overtaking" rule does apply. i.e. it is compulsary to use the bus lane.

and as for

"A driver MUST not overtake other traffic in a out of hours bus lane, with the exception when traffic is queuing in both lanes"

they have confirmed that this applies to buses and taxis too (out of hours)

Cookie_Monster

cormac_byrne wrote: »

"A driver MUST not overtake other traffic in a out of hours bus lane, with the exception when traffic is queuing in both lanes"

they have confirmed that this applies to buses and taxis too (out of hours)

nothing about undertaking then

OldmanMondeo

hedgeh0g wrote: »

Say for example a L driver is doing 20 KM in the right lane and the bus lane is
empty and legal for me to use, (Im not a taxi) can I undertake it in this car using the bus lane?

Was in this exact situation last Friday evening, couple of cars in front of me, all behind a L driver. The cars in front all undertook via the buslane. There are 2 reasons why I refused to do so,

1. It is a Bus lane and I don't drive a PSV
2. We all at had to learn to drive, not one of us got into a car first time and knew how to drive.

edit: no-one under took me, even though there was plenty of room, either they had the same respect for the ROTR and the Learner or they were concered about a silver ford mondeo....

Cookie_Monster

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

edit: no-one under took me, even though there was plenty of room, either they had the same respect for the ROTR and the Learner or they were concered about a silver ford mondeo....

Probably the latter. I think it has become genetically embedded in Irish drivers to react cautiously to Mondeos:D

emilyj

Sorry but I'm just a little confused maybe someone can explain a couple of things.
If the car ahead of you is turning right, can you enter the out of hours bus lane to pass him briefly on the left?
Can you enter the out ooh bus lane at any point or must you wait for a broken line?
I can't get my head around the statement about being able to o/t when 2 lanes are queing, does this mean that the bus lane and regular lane are merging?

cormac_byrne

emilyj wrote: »

Sorry but I'm just a little confused maybe someone can explain a couple of things.
If the car ahead of you is turning right, can you enter the out of hours bus lane to pass him briefly on the left?
Can you enter the out ooh bus lane at any point or must you wait for a broken line?
I can't get my head around the statement about being able to o/t when 2 lanes are queing, does this mean that the bus lane and regular lane are merging?

emilyj wrote: »

If the car ahead of you is turning right, can you enter the out of hours bus lane to pass him briefly on the left?

the RSA says yes, in fact you should be in the left lane anyway
(so don't return to regular lane after passing)

emilyj wrote: »

Can you enter the out ooh bus lane at any point or must you wait for a broken line?

If I'm interpreting the RSA correctly, out of hours the thick white line doesn't count anymore (treat it as a broken line). The drive left rule would mean you should enter the bus lane at the start and only have to cross the solid white line for overtaking.

emilyj wrote: »

I can't get my head around the statement about being able to o/t when 2 lanes are queing, does this mean that the bus lane and regular lane are merging?

They're just saying it's the same as any two lanes, ie you can overtake left if both lanes are full of slow moving traffic (i.e queing) and the left lane is moving slightly quicker.

They did say BOTH lanes must be queing, so that implies that if I'm on my own in an out of hours bus lane and I see a queue of traffic in the right hand lane, then I must wait until a queue forms behind me before I may pass.

Quite obviously this is absurd, but that's what they told me.

mickdw

cormac_byrne wrote: »

They did say BOTH lanes must be queing, so that implies that if I'm on my own in an out of hours bus lane and I see a queue of traffic in the right hand lane, then I must wait until a queue forms behind me before I may pass.

No. They meant where there are 2 lane plus a bus lane that the 2 other lanes must be slow moving traffic to allow you to overtake on left in out of hours bus lane. If the outermost lane is free, you should theoretically be out there if you wish to overtake but of course this might not always be possible because the majority of drivers will still que in the left land (ignoring the bus lane) and so there will be no way you can get to the outside lane. In practice, if the lane directly on your right in backed up, there could be no problem with you driving down the out of hours bus lane

Mr. Presentable

woodseb wrote: »

?

the problems is caused by poor driving legislation and clear enforcement.

No. The problem is caused by people looking for loopholes to excuse behaviour they know is wrong and unsafe.

cormac_byrne

mickdw wrote: »

No. They meant where there are 2 lane plus a bus lane that the 2 other lanes must be slow moving traffic to allow you to overtake on left in out of hours bus lane. If the outermost lane is free, you should theoretically be out there if you wish to overtake but of course this might not always be possible because the majority of drivers will still que in the left land (ignoring the bus lane) and so there will be no way you can get to the outside lane. In practice, if the lane directly on your right in backed up, there could be no problem with you driving down the out of hours bus lane

No they simply said

"A driver MUST not overtake other traffic in a out of hours bus lane, with the exception when traffic is queuing in both lanes."

ie OOH lane and the regular car lane, no mention of a third lane

Am not claiming that it makes any sense, merely reporting what they said.


they also said
"The out of hours bus lane can be used by any vehicular traffic for normal driving, and if any driver wishes to overtake the vehicle in front of him he may do so on the right provided it is SAFE to do so."

I queried the 'can be used' bit and they admitted the normal 'keep left' rule applies. i.e. it would have been more correct if they had said 'should be used'

Am waiting a reply as to whether they intend clarifying things in the ROTR

L1011

cormac_byrne wrote: »

Where did you get these ideas from?

Certainly not from the rules of the road or RSA website.

If the bus lane is not a separate carriageway then how do the busses and taxis get away with undertaking all the time?

I get "these ideas" from the law. Road marking rules are not in the ROTR. The ROTR is not the law.

There is a maximum width to a continuous white line, and and minimum width to a line deliniating a buslane. The latter is wider than the former.

A bus lane's white line must be (at least) 250mm. SI 181/1997
A continous white line is 100-150mm. Again SI 181/1997

A bus can undertake traffic while in a bus lane due to the traffic in the driving lanes being significantly slower than it.

sneakyST wrote: »

Incorrect according to the guard who pulled me over for doing it. I crossed the white line 10 yards too early before a traffic lights. Gave me a warning but no fine. I asked him does the same rule apply to a white line down the middle and he said yes. It was news to me at the time.

Since when do Guards have the slightest clue about the laws in this country?